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<\/a>Serving tea to Reed College students during ‘Midnight Breakfast’<\/p><\/div>\n
After such success in Bellingham at Western Washington University, I decided that it would be fun to serve tea at more college campuses. College age people are eager to learn, eager to see what lies beyond the bounds that older folks have laid out for them to operate within.<\/p>\n
<\/a>NCNM students, Chris, and Owen<\/p><\/div>\n
My buddy Owen has a good friend who attends the National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM), and she suggested we head on down there during their finals week. Last Monday Owen, his brother Chris, and myself rolled on over to campus. We were invited by our host into the main parking lot, right in front of the main building to serve tea. We set up, brewed some tea, and set out a FREE TEA sign. Immediately we had guests\u2026 Even the security guard came over and said, \u201cSweet vehicle! Oh man, is that a solar panel on top? Wow!\u201d It was an instant hit.<\/p>\n
After a short bit, the security guard came back and said something along the lines of, \u201cSooo, the higher ups are a little curious about what is going on. Do you know anyone who goes to school here? What is the name of the student that invited you? Oh no, she wont get into trouble.\u201d Reluctantly, we told him. He came back shortly and pulled me aside. \u201cI am totally digging on what you\u2019re doing. This is nothing personal, but you are going to have to move. The school has an exclusive contract with the food cart across the lot, and so legally we can\u2019t let you serve tea here, or else we are breaking that contract. You can move onto the public street though, and that would be fine. I hope you don\u2019t take this personally.\u201d I didn\u2019t. We actually got a great parking spot right where a lot of foot traffic passes by.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Dr. Glen Nagel offering some herbs for our herb garden.<\/p><\/div>\n
The security guard came and got some tea, as did many more students. The school\u2019s president gave us a peace sign as he passed, and even a professor or two came by. One of the professors who came by, Dr. Glen Nagel, had visited the tea tent at Rootstalk Festival a year and a half ago. Evidently, he is known around campus as the \u201ctea professor.\u201d Intrigued by the bus, he went to the campus garden, picked a bunch of herbs, and brewed up a pot of tea. He even brought his own set of tiny teacups, into which he poured a delicious purple brew for all the guests. He had us guessing at what herbs were in the pot, but stumped us all with the one that gave it its distinct purple hue \u2013 Purple Shiso.<\/p>\n
I was telling Glen about the garden I am about to build on my large side door, and low-and-behold, he came back later with over a dozen herb plants for my garden, including some Purple Shiso. Seriously, I think this is one of the best gifts I have ever received. Thank you, Glen!<\/p>\n
I had served tea earlier in the week on Belmont St and had on the bus a fellow, Matteo, who I had given a 5-day rideshare with his girlfriend from Portland to Santa Rosa, CA a few years ago. He had brought some friends who were students at Reed College. We schemed a plan that night of the tea bus heading over to Reed College campus during finals week. That day came the day after we were at NCNM.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Reed students enjoying some tea<\/p><\/div>\n
I headed over to the Reed campus with my friend Adrienne and several Reed students to scout a good spot to serve to all the students deep in paper writing and studying. Hmmm, should we set up in front of the library, meaning we would drive where we weren\u2019t supposed to. The suggestion came up that we pull up near the dining hall for their Midnight Breakfast \u2013 which was to take place at 10 pm. It was decided!<\/p>\n
I feel that part of the purpose of the tea bus is to promote peace \u2013 whether it\u2019s providing a place for people to overcome differences, connect with strangers, or resolve conflict. So, when something I do, like pulling onto a college campus, has the inherent ability to cause <\/i>conflict, it makes me nervous. Never do I want to cause problems! For this reason I was on edge rolling up to the center of campus with Enda Lu the teabus.<\/p>\n Writing some Lightfoot letters<\/p><\/div>\n At 9:40 we arrived with Edna on campus with hot water and tea, ready to serve. I wanted to get serving as quickly as possible. We pulled up to the grass and set out chairs, cushions, and my large rug. Immediately we were inundated with thirsty students. The response was wonderful. Even a security guard (called Community Safety on campus) was interested in what was happening. Eventually an older fellow with a Reed shirt and name tag came and asked us who we had spoken to be there. Um, no one<\/i>. He was the head of Community Safety. Although we should\u2019ve gotten permission to be there, he let us stay, and said we\u2019d be welcomed back if we let them know beforehand next time. I handed him a sticker and he went on his way.<\/p>\n<\/a>